The Book of Esther

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- Chapter 1 -

The king dethrones Queen Vashti

In the days of Ahasuerus, this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India as far as Ethiopia, over 127 provinces,

in those days King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the fortress of Susa.

In the third year of his reign, he gave a feast to all his officials and his servants. The army of Persia and Media, the noblemen, and governors of the provinces were in his presence.

He displayed the wealth of the splendor of his kingdom and the honor of the glory of his greatness for many days, for 180 days.

When these days were completed, the king gave a feast lasting seven days. It was for all the people in the palace of Susa, from the greatest to the least significant. It was held in the courtyard of the garden of the king’s palace.

The courtyard of the garden was decorated with curtains of white cotton and violet, with cords of fine linen and purple, hung on silver rings from pillars of marble. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored paving stones.

Drinks were served in golden cups. Each cup was unique and there was much royal wine that came because of the king’s generosity.

The drinking was carried out in keeping with the decree, “There must be no compulsion.” The king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do for them whatever each guest desired.

Also, Queen Vashti gave a feast for the women in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.

On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was feeling happy because of the wine, he told Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven officials who served before him,

to bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown. He wanted to show the people and the officials her beauty, for her features were stunning.

But Queen Vashti refused to come at the word of the king that had been brought to her by the officials. Then the king became very angry; his rage burned within him.

So the king conferred with the men who were known to be wise, who understood the times, for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were expert in law and judgment.

Now the ones close to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, seven princes of Persia and Media. They had access to the king, and they held the highest offices within the kingdom.

“In compliance with the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus, which was brought to her by the officials?”

Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Vashti the queen done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

For the matter of the queen will become known to all women. It will cause them to treat their husbands with contempt. They will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought before him, but she refused.’

Before the end of this very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the matter of the queen will say the same thing to all the king’s officials. There will be much contempt and anger.

If it pleases the king, let a royal decree be sent out from him, and let it be written in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come before him. Let the king give her position as queen to another who is better than she.

When the king’s decree is proclaimed throughout all his vast kingdom, all the wives will honor their husbands, from the greatest to the least significant.”

The king and his noblemen were pleased with this advice, and the king did as Memucan proposed.

He sent out letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own writing, and to each people in their own language. He ordered that every man should be master of his own household. This decree was given in the language of each people in the empire.

The king dethrones Queen Vashti

Now in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),

in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Susa the palace,

in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him.

He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.

When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Susa the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.

There were hangings of white and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble.

They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.

In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

to bring Vashti the queen before the king wearing the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful.

But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.

Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times ( for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;

and next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom),

“ What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?”

Memucan answered before the king and the princes, “ Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.

For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands when it is reported, ‘ King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn’t come.’

Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s deed will tell all the king’s princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath.

“If it pleases the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.

When the king’s decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom ( for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small.”

This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people.